MP3 Players

MP3 Players

Whilst smart phones are usually capable of storing and playing music, for the loud and proud music junkie there’s nothing quite like an MP3 player to store that enormous music library. Whether you like to listen at home, during your commute, or whilst you exercise, there’s a symphony of stylish models to choose from.

On PriceRunner we’ve rounded up deals on a huge selection of MP3 players, from the iconic Apple iPod Nano which boasts video playback, to simple budget-friendly solutions for the casual, fuss-free listener. However big your music collection, there’s something with your name on it.

For some sound MP3 buying advice straight from the experts, check out the Which? Guide on the tab above.

MP3 player buying guide

An MP3 player is a small device that stores and lets you listen to music and podcasts wherever you go. While smartphones are also capable of storing and playing music, they tend to have less storage space, and these days they are rather bigger - so if you’re a music or podcast fanatic looking for a dedicated device that can hold your entire music library without taking all the space in your pockets, an MP3 player is the way to go.

There are many different types of MP3 player - from software-specific models to mass-storage machines. If you’re having trouble understanding all the tech-talk, use our buying guide to help find the right portable listening device for you.

Storage

How does an MP3 player actually store music? There are two main methods. The device will either have a fixed amount of in-built storage, where you upload music directly to, or it will store the music on a separate memory card, usually a microSD card.

MP3 storage is measured in gigabytes (GBs). As a rough measure, 1 GB can store around 250 songs.

MP3s with in-built storage are arguably more convenient and easy to use, but you might find yourself feeling frustrated if you fill the storage capacity and want more. So if you have a particularly large music library, a memory-card model might be best. This way you can maintain an interchange several memory cards, each with a colossal amount of storage capacity. MicroSD cards also offer more storage at a cheaper cost than MP3s with in-built storage. Make sure you check what maximum capacity memory card the player is capable of using: this will usually be between 32 & 64 GB, but this limit should evolve over time.

Features

MP3 players seem to get smarter and snazzier by the day, and can come with a range of fancy features. Here are a few key ones to look out for.

Cameras

It may seem strange, but some of the higher-end players - like Apple’s iconic iPod Touch range - come complete with small digital cameras. The cameras are capable of snapping photos and shooting film, which are then stored directly on the device. While this feature is a lot of fun, videos and photographs will eat away at your storage quite quickly.

FM radio

If you’re a radio junkie and want to listen to your favorite talk-shows on the go, then you should look for an MP3 player that has an FM Radio tuner. This isn’t a standard feature, and it’s often something that even some of the flashier MP3 players lack.

Video player

This is a feature that’s most often found on more expensive devices. Like the camera feature, you may question the need for a video player, particularly as MP3 player screen sizes tend to be small. But if you like the idea of a device that can function as a multimedia machine, a video player feature could be for you. Some Apple iPods boast spacious screens with high-definition colour displays which are better suited for watching videos. Archos does tablet-like players with decent screens and very large storage capacities for a reasonable price.

Size and weight

Size is another important aspect to consider. If you’re after a super small and feather-light MP3, be prepared to sacrifice features like the camera and video-player, and say goodbye to spacious screen size, or any screen at all for that matter.

That said, memory card MP3s capable of storing 128 GBs - like those produced by SanDisk and Olympus - can be very lightweight and portable. Nowadays, you can even find cards much larger than that, but they can be pricey. And remember: if you lose the card (which is easy, seen as they are now very small), the bigger the storage capacity the more music & data you will lose. It can be wise, therefore, to use several cards instead of one, something that could also slash the total cost.

If you want to use your MP3 player to listen to music while exercising outdoors or at the gym, you’ll want an ultra-light model that’s able to clip onto your sportswear. SanDisk and Sony both offer excellent sports-suitable devices. Prepare, however, to sacrifice the fancy features and/or the larger storage capacity.

How much to spend?

Once you’ve worked out what features are right for you, and whether you want to go with built-in or external storage, you should start thinking about price tags. MP3s have a huge price range, starting at around £30 and extending to £300 or so.

If you’re buying a player that uses an external memory card, be prepared to make two purchases - one for the device itself, and another for the memory card. Most of these devices come with some in-built storage capacity, but it will typically be very low. A small, light, and no-frills MP3 will put you in the £30 - £60 price bracket. MicroSD cards, meanwhile, start at around a few pounds for 8GB, and range to hundreds of Pounds for the biggest & fastest cards.

If you’re looking for a sleek and svelte MP3 player with a variety of smart features - like those in Apple’s iPod range - you should look to spend upwards of £120. Some of these devices even boast smooth touchscreen interfaces. Bear in mind that the more in-built storage the device has, the more expensive it will be - large capacity models can set you back a few hundred pounds.

This is the tip info of safebuy logo

The rating on this retailer has been gathered from actual buyers through our Customer Satisfaction Evaluation programme